Erica Hensens

I studied at QMU over a longer period of time than some having swapped degrees in the middle. I was a course rep and represented the Leith Campus on the Students’ Union committee for a couple of years as well. I really enjoyed my year on placement whilst studying Physiotherapy with the opportunities to work in the Highlands, Edinburgh, Mid-Lothian, the Borders and Northumberland! I finished my time at the institution as Student President. That was a fantastic year with some significant work needed for the SU but also during the Re:locate project and it really laid the foundations for my future career.

Tell us about your Experiences since leaving QMU

Immediately after leaving QM Students’ Union I joined SPARQS (Student Participation in Quality Scotland) and worked throughout Scotland in both the FE and HE sectors designing and delivering training, to support student engagement, for staff and students in a wide variety of institutions. In 2008 I moved to London, at first working at Cass Business School, City University London, in the Masters programme and then as Director of the MBA Programme. Cass was a fantastic training ground as an HE professional, and working across both London and Dubai for the MBA was a great professional challenge.

After a number of years at Cass I then transitioned to London Business School where I was Director of the MBA programme for four years, with responsibility for the development and strategic management of their world leading programme. Working for such a high profile programme and University was a fantastic opportunity and it has been great to see the programme continue to perform well in leading Business School rankings..

In November this year I completed my own MBA studying at UCL’s Institute of Education; studying whilst working full time was rewarding (if at times exhausting), and completing my dissertation with a focus on the impact of national and institutional research policy on the teaching practice of individual academics was a particularly interesting experience.

I have recently returned to Scotland and begun working at the University of Stirling in their Academic Registry team, which makes me remember the conversations I used to have with then QMU Academic Registrar Irene Hynd when I was a student officer!

Alumni wisdom

While it’s fantastic (and wise!) to have a career plan, always be open to opportunity, you never know what is round the corner…and get involved… putting up my hand up to be a class rep was one of the best things I ever did and I wouldn’t be where I am now if I hadn’t.

Story published 2016 - 2017

After Graduation

I gained a lot of clinical experience working in acute medical admissions, rehabilitation and urology at the Western General Hospital in Edinburgh. I then decided to continue developing my knowledge and I went back to QMU in 2007 to study MSc Nursing over three years. It was hard doing that whilst working, but I felt that my practice matured as I progressed through the course.

At this point I was working as a urology nurse specialist at the Western General Hospital and the MSc positively influenced my clinical decision making, critical thinking, case management and professional approach.

I made another career change in 2010, when I went to work in the oil and gas sector as an offshore medic for Centrica in the East Irish Sea. It’s an autonomous job where healthcare is delivered in a hostile environment to a population with unique needs. It’s been a fantastic experience for me and I’m fortunate to work for a company which has recognised my academic ambition and has given me the training and development to have a new role as the offshore health, safety and environmental advisor.

I’m currently undertaking a BSc in Occupational Health at Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen. I expect to complete this in 2017, and then it is my intention to study another MSc in Safety and Risk Management at Heriot Watt University. I also have a long-term ambition to undertake a PhD, which will examine the relationship between workplace culture and process safety.

QMU has given me a thirst for life-long learning. I‘ve had a wonderful career which wouldn’t have been possible without having a firm academic basis, confidence and ambition that I gained from my undergraduate years.”